Types of Firewalls: Advantages and Disadvantages

We already know the Firewall network layer or packet filtering, it's time to learn about another type of Firewall. We refer to the application layer or Gateway. They are those that, as their name indicates, work under level 7 of the application layer of the OSI model (Open System Interconnection, which is a model created by the International Standard Organization or ISO for the interconnection of computer networks).

Level 7 refers to the level that defines, analyzes and inspects the protocols to be used to exchange data, such as emails, FTP files, web pages (HTTP), among others. That is, they regulate the type of protocol to be used. For example, access to some web pages could be restricted using this tool. One of the most prominent firewalls within this system is Sonicwall and iTinySoft.

We also find the Personal firewalls, which are those that are installed on the computer as software, and filter the information between the computer and the rest of the network.
Among the advantages and disadvantages of having a firewall are the following:

Advantages:
to. Protection of private information: Define which network users and what information each of them will obtain.
b. Access optimization: Directly define the protocols to be used
c. Intrusion protection: Protects against external intruders by restricting access to the network.

Disadvantages:
to. It does not protect against attacks that do not pass through the firewall.
b. It does not protect threats and attacks from negligent users.
c. It does not protect against copying important data if it has been accessed.
d. It does not protect against social engineering attacks (attacks through legitimate means. For example, the attacker contacts the victim posing as a bank employee, and requests confidential information, for example, credit card details, under the pretext of renewal of said card)